We spent almost a week in the lovely beach town of Búzios. Just the four of us. It's perfect in the winter because it's not scorching hot yet still warm enough to swim and enjoy everything. The weather was perfect throughout our entire stay except for one day in which it rained. The girls swam (in the ocean and in the hotel pool) more than they did anything else. Seriously, they swam even more than they slept! I was able to bum out for a couple of days ... pure bliss! And Daddy divided his time between bumming out and swimming/kayaking/surfing. Best family vacations we've had so far!
Somebody thinks they're coming along:
Recharging for all the fun to be had:
Made it at last! We literally checked into the hotel and then headed straight to the beach.
Daddy joins the girls ... I preferred to take in the action from afar. :)
Yes, they stayed out there until the sun set.
Pretty view:
Time for dinner:
Another gorgeous day!
Daddy kayaking with Alina:
Laurie's turn:
Out for dinner ... this restaurant had this beautiful sea turtle shell:
Perfect weather for our boat ride:
Yay!
Laurie and Daddy were the first to jump into the water at one of the several stops the boat made:
Go Laurie!
A live starfish someone picked up from the ocean floor:
Alina finally plucked up the courage to jump in:
Resting a bit:
Another live sea creature from the ocean floor:
And another:
Happy monkeys!
A pose before getting off:
The annual Festa Junina held at the kids' school is always a highlight of our year. We looooooove all the typical foods, the festive decorations, the music (ONLY at this time of the year, heh), and the girls love to dress in "caipira" outfits. As usual, each grade performed and this year Laurie actually danced. It was too cute! I filmed most of each of their dances, but it'd be too large/long to put here. :D
Ready to go:
Say cheeeeese:
Part of Laurie's group:
Waiting in line to get on stage:
Alina's turn:
Munching on cotton candy while waiting to have her face painted:
"Fishing" for a prize:
Happy froggie:
This fat orange-ish thing is Pepper, my sister Marina's cat. Alina loves to pamper him by carrying him around, which he apparently likes.
He's lazy.
And cute.
Laurie cheering for Brazil during one of the Confederations Cup games:
Woohoo!
In June we had the pleasure of Mr. Monkey's company for a week. He and Laura had a blast together. Check out the photos and see for yourself. (Mr. Monkey was part of a school project where each kid took him home for a week and then had to write/draw about their adventures to share with the rest of the class.)
Happy monkeys ready to go to bed:
Having breakfast:
Reading a story:
Roasting marshmallows with the family:
Going to the movies:
Such fun!
